Aug.06, 2012 | 1:04 AM–A team of scientists has developed a method of more precisely predicting the development sinkholes by the Dead Sea, which should make the area safer for visitors and people working there.

Researchers say use of an Italian earth-observation satellite system known as Cosmo-Skymed has significantly improved their ability to predict when and where sinkholes will form. The technology should give them a few month’s notice before a sinkhole actually appears.

Currently, geologists can only map out the general area where sinkholes might form.

These destructive pits are caused by the continuing decline in the level of the Dead Sea.

Sinkholes are created as the Dead Sea’s water recedes, allowing fresh water to flow into the underground layer of salt once covered by the Dead Sea. The fresh water dissolves the salt, creating large underground cavities, into which the surface collapses.

According to Geological Survey of Israel, several hundred sinkholes appear every year, some as large as 12 meters in diameter and 20 meters deep. They have ruined some of Kibbutz Ein Gedi’s tourism facilities and threaten Route 90, the main road along the Dead Sea. In addition, they can be dangerous, if someone falls into one (which has happened at the Dead Sea )…Read More>>

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